The Western Crow 



These dusky birds are notorious mischief-makers, no doubt of that. 

 But they are not so black, perhaps, as they have been painted. More 

 than any other bird, save the Raven, the Crow has successfully matched 

 his wits against those of man, and his frequent easy victories and conse- 

 quent boastings are responsible in large measure for the unsavory repu- 

 tation in which he is held. It is a familiar adage in ebony circles that the 

 proper study of Crow-kind is man ; and so well has he pursued this study 

 that he may fairly be said to hold his own in spite of fierce and ingenious 

 persecution. He rejoices in the name of outlaw, and ages of ill-treatment 

 have only served to sharpen his wits and intensify his cunning. 



That the warfare waged against him is largely unnecessary, and 

 partly unjust, has been pretty clearly proven of late by scientists who have 

 investigated the Crow's food habits. It is true that he destroys large 

 numbers of eggs and nestlings, and, if allowed to, that he will occasionally 

 invade the poultry yard — and for such conduct there can be no apology. 

 It is true, also, that some damage is inflicted upon corn in the roasting-ear 

 stage, and that corn left out through the winter constitutes a staple article 

 of Crow diet. But it is estimated that birds and eggs form only about 

 one-half of one per cent of their total diet; and in the case of grain, certain- 

 ly they perform conspicuous services in raising the crop. Besides the 

 articles of food mentioned, great quantities of crickets, beetles, grass- 

 hoppers, caterpillars, cut-worms, and spiders, are consumed. Frogs, 

 lizards, mice, and snakes also appear occasionally upon the bill of fare. 

 On the whole, therefore, the Crow is not an economic Gorgon, and his 

 destruction need not largely concern the farmer, although it is always 

 well to teach the bird a proper reverence. 



The psychology of the Crow is worthy of a separate treatise. All 

 birds have a certain faculty of direct perception, which we are pleased to 

 call instinct; but the Crow, at least, comes delightfully near to reasoning. 

 It is on account of his phenomenal brightness that a Crow is among the 

 most interesting of pets. If taken from the nest and well treated, a 

 young Crow can be given such a large measure of freedom as fully to 

 justify the experiment from a humanitarian standpoint. Of course the 

 sure end of such a pet is death by an ignorant neighbor's gun, but the 

 dear departed is embalmed in memory to such a degree that all Crows 

 are thereafter regarded as upon a higher plane. 



Everyone knows that Crows talk. Their cry is usually represented 

 by a single syllable, caw, but it is capable of many and important modifi- 

 cations. For instance, keraw, her aw, comes from some irritated and 

 apprehensive female, who is trying to smuggle a stick into the grove; 

 kawk-kawk-kawk proclaims sudden danger, and puts the flock into instant 

 commotion; while caw-aw, caw-aw, caw-aw, reassures them. Once, in win- 

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